FROM what was a hotbed of atmosphere and battle back in May was the polar opposite in August at Hillsborough as Sunderland and Sheffield Wednesday played out a lacklustre Carabao Cup tie which saw the Black Cats 18 match unbeaten run come to an end.

It was three months on from their famous night in the League One play-offs when Patrick Roberts netted in the last minute to send the Black Cats on their way to promotion but the game almost had the feel of a final pre-season friendly of the summer.

The visitors supporters made the trip in their numbers but sat and watched their side limp out of the competition at the earliest stage with their side’s focus very much being on the league over the cup this season.

Eleven changes were made for tonight’s Carabao Cup showdown with Alex Neil intending to ‘freshen things up’ in his side but Sunderland looked anything but in the first 15 minutes of the game. A number of sloppy passes combined with a lack of ideas allowed Sheffield Wednesday to provide pressure. After Sunderland defended two crosses into the box, the Owls took the lead in some style when Dennis Adeniran picked up the pieces, side stepped Patrick Roberts and lashed the ball into the top corner from 25 yards leaving Alex Bass with no chance.

The Black Cats response was swift as they carved out a chance of their own but saw Jack Diamond’s snapshot inside the box whilst just wide of the post from Jay Matete’s through ball. Their resurgence was brief through with Sheffield Wednesday standing firm and cutting off the angles while Black Cats boss Alex Neil was cutting shapes on the sideline barking constant instruction to his players.

The Black Cats first half was summed up when Elliot Embleton scooped a first time effort over the bar from the edge of the box. It was a lacklustre performance to match the occasion with Sunderland having work to do in the second half.

Sunderland showed an early glimpse of what they could threaten with as Trai Hume sent bodies flying in the Sheffield Wednesday box with his low cross fizzing just past the sliding Elliot Embleton with the goal to aim at.

But the response was short lived as the visitors became the masters of their own downfall. Ten minutes into the second period, some short passes across the defence saw Alex Bass gave the ball to goal scorer Adeniran on the right whose eyes lit up when he saw an opportunity to float the ball to substitute Sylla Sow. With Sunderland bodies scattered around, Sow had the freedom of the penalty area to stroke the ball home with a first time volley. From their,

The visitors didn’t provide much of a fightback in the game with Sheffield Wednesday calmly stroking the ball around the Hillsborough turf for virtually the remainder of the game. Even Darren Moore, the Sheffield Wednesday box, was watching the game whilst sitting comfortably on the drinks cooler.

Diamond proved to be lively in attack and was giving the Owls defence plenty to think about. A neat intricate passage of play started by Roberts found it’s way to the midfielder/striker on the edge of the box but he lashed his shot straight at Michael Ihiekwe.

While it was far from a special night for Sunderland, the evening will live long in the memory for Michael Spellman who made his competitive debut by coming off the bench in the final ten minutes. The midfielder had completed his rapid rise from the Wearside League to the Sunderland first-team.

Sow had the chance to put the result to bed when he pinched the ball away from Carl Winchester at the back but he spared the Northern Irishman’s blushes by spurning the chance on the edge of the box.

That was all she wrote on an uneventful night in Sheffield with Sunderland having just the Championship to focus on until January at the earliest. Their exit may well be a blessing in disguise with Neil and his squad taking a big picture approach to this game.